reflecting light ,transmit light

[miffy053]

how can we tell if a object reflects light or transmits light????? would say a glass ottle or a pc do either ???????

[gen2]

If an object reflects light, light bounces off it (eg gold).
If an object transmits light, light passes through it.
If an object emits light, it is the source of the light.

A clear glass bottle reflects some light but transmits the greater portion of it. Some light will be absorbed and go nowhere. Coloured bottles will absorb more light and transmit less.

A PC is the source of the light you see, so it neither reflects nor transmits light. It emits light.

[Zevon]

Actually, nithing reflects light truly in the sense of particles or waves bouncing off. When things reflect light they absorb it and then re-emit it shortly afterwards. This explains transmitting light as this occurs when light is not absorbed and allowed to continue as normal. Reflecting by absorption of light energy and re-emitting explains how certain things such as UV security markers work, the ink absorbs UV light but then re-emits as visible light.

A bit in depth but still interesting. At least I hope.

To tell if something absorbs or transmits light you must look at the type of .light sent in and the type of light coming out, if it is slighlty different the substance probably reflected the light, but the best way to tell is with a very thin beam and to look at the angle the light comes out at. See 'refraction' in an encyclopedia to know why.